Rio de Janeiro’s Center Revitalizes with New Gastronomic Investments

A wave of new restaurants and food‑related businesses is transforming Rio de Janeiro’s historic downtown. Chefs such as Ignácio Peixoto have opened venues like Itsáry, attracted by lower rents and proximity to Santos Dumont Airport and public offices. The recently inaugurated Mercado Central hosts several eateries, including Suba by Bernardo Barros and Bocado and Petí run by Julia Raposo, while the Cotovelo brewery is setting up a new site as part of the Reviver Centro plan.

Meanwhile, residents of the Barra da Tijuca neighborhood are being asked to prioritize the area’s most pressing problems through an online poll. Options include improving mobility, environmental investment, and reducing violence. The issue receiving the most votes will shape a forthcoming Globo report that will propose concrete solutions for the borough and surrounding districts.